Leslie W. Baker, Mary Ruth Cross – Suicidality and Suicide Loss in Children and Teens: Prevent Suicide and Restore Hope to Kids Grieving After Traumatic Loss

Outline

Warning Signs For Children and Teens

• Risk factors with or without a mental health diagnosis
• Build compassion, reduce stigma for clinicians and parents
• Determine roles in suicide risk assessment situations

Risk Assessment And Crisis Response

• Implicit vs. explicit forms of expressions of suicidality
• Listening, supportive, caring response
• Introduction of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale – C-SSRS
• Brief protocols for assessment and treatment

Creating The Treatment Plan

• Protective factors: Adults vs Youth
• Complicating factors for children and teens: dual diagnosis, negative life events
• Handling a crisis of suicidal intent or ideation
  • Clinician – Case examples of applying assessment protocol and action
  • Parents & caregivers – Case examples of applying assessment protocol and action

Bringing The Prefrontal Cortex Back Online

• The bottom-up treatment approach to calm, regulate and soothe
• Match intervention to brain development
• Develop a brain-based treatment plan

Suicide Prevention

• CBT Interventions & Play-based interventions adapted for ages 4-20
  • Explore with symbols and/or words – “Puzzling” Warning Signs
  • Thought-stopping, self-soothing: affirmations, mediation and mantras – Stop & Calm
  • Key areas of prevention – Three Circles of Hope
  • Skills to assist in coping, promoting social connection, increasing support, removing access to lethal means – Handy Circle
  • Caring Contacts, keeping connected – Hope Notes & Post Cards
  • Safety Planning – Bee-Safe, MY3 APP

Treatment of Traumatic Grief After Suicide Loss

• Emotional regulation and containment
  • Guided imagery to recreate scene of passing, create new reality
  • Explore the changes since the loss
  • Promote mastery & control in communication
• Memorializing, Legacy, Imaginal Dialogue
  • Continue bonds and relationships
  • Memorialize in a safe and non-permanent manner
  • Process feelings in imaginal dialogue
• Story Telling and Social Action
  • Express your story in the sandtray
  • Hope for the future
  • In Action! Integrating loss – Impacting Community

Supporting School Staff, Parents and Caregivers

• Manage suicidal thoughts & behaviors
• Caregiver assess risk
• Address fears, worries and concerns
• Hospitalization, after care, and reducing suicidal ideation
• Resources for teachers, parents and caregivers